Research reveals alarming number of accidents on regional roads

Two thirds of deaths on West Australian roads occur in regional WA, according to the Australian Road Safety Foundation research released as part of rural road safety month. Last year 77 people were killed or seriously injured in regional WA while not wearing a seatbelt, which was an increase of 35 per cent compared to the preceding five-year average. Although there is an increase of caravans on the road, they are not over-represented in serious crashes and fatalities. Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said there were still safety guidelines caravan users needed to follow. “Drivers need to understand their vehicle towing capabilities to prevent accidents and also need to know how to equip their vehicle and how to fit and load what they intend to tow,” he said. “Caravan drivers should keep plenty of space between them and vehicle in front and when in an overtaking lane and allow as many vehicles to pass safely as possible.” Mr Warner said a similar message applied to navigating road trains in the Pilbara. “Road trains are not over-represented in crashes involving death or serious injury, however road users should understand how to drive safely when sharing the road with a road train,” he said. Australian Road Safety Foundation chief executive Russell White said high-risk behaviour was too common on regional roads. “We now have strong evidence that when it comes to preventing road trauma in regional areas, drivers from across greater Perth and built up areas carry an equal responsibility to local residents,” he said. “The research showed that a quarter of West Australian drivers are more likely to break a road rule when in regional areas.” High risk rural roads are used by more than nine in ten West Australians at least once a year.